Chapter 2: Blessing or Curse

Date: March 1st

74 days until the wedding.

(Third Person)

"Take that!"

Bella dodged a pillow thrown at her and jumped onto the couch. She and her siblings were in a usual game of pillow fight. Right now it was all for one. Whoever was the last one standing won...well the won gloating rights.

"You're going to have to do better than that!" Bella laughed as she waved her pillow around. Hemo was hanging above her, trying to get some rest. He opened on eye to look at the activity for a moment before relaxing once more.

She jumped off the couch and ran across the room. Suddenly it got too quite. Bella looked around nervously. She clutched the pillow to her chest for protection and backed away slowly. Only hearing the soft creeks of her footsteps. Sure, she felt nervous before, but this wasn't the fun type. Bella decided that no one was here and turned to leave when.

"GOTCHA!"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Lock had swung from a beam above her and landed on her. Bella let out a blood curdling scream and pushed him off. Breathing heavily, she closed her eyes and suddenly felt her hands start to ache. Shock and Barrel ran in, pillows in hand.

"What was that?" Barrel asked.

"I dunno, I just scared her. She's never acted like this before." Lock said.

"You idiot! You went to far!" Shock yelled and smacked him with her pillow.

"Hey!" Lock cried and the two started to bicker.

Meanwhile Bella was still trying to recover from the whole thing. She breathed in one more time and opened her eyes. She saw her siblings continuing to fight. Before she could stop it, she looked down at her hands and screamed again, causing the attention of her siblings.

"Bella what's...ah! What the heck!?" Barrel gasped and Lock and Shock followed suit. Hemo flew in after them and hovered above their heads.

Bella's hands were replaced with needles. Exactly like the Beldam's.

"I...I...I..." Bella gasped and tried to control her breathing, but ended up panicking on the spot. Her fingers ripped straight through the pillow and try as she might, her hands wouldn't go back to normal.

"Bella, calm down." Shock urged. Bella didn't say anything and ripped the pillow from her hands and stared at them in horror.

"No...nonononono!" She muttered and then felt a pang in her legs. "Ah! What's happening...to me!?" She screamed and toppled over. Her three siblings stared it horror as her legs split apart, becoming spider like legs just like the Beldam's legs. Tears weld up in Bella's eyes and she looked up and her siblings.

"I...I don't know what's going on!" She cried, tears streaming down her face. Shock then quickly took charge.

"Hemo! Go get help!" She cried and the bat let out a squeak and flew out the the window. Shock ran over to her sister.

"Don't worry Bella, we're right here." She said and Lock and Barrel came beside Bella. They stood in silence, hoping Hemo would hurry.

Hemo fluttered into the night and once he crossed realms, headed straight for the house he needed to reach. Unfortunately, the window was shut. Hemo glared at it for a moment and saw Charlotte's hair, barely visible from underneath the blankets. Hemo backs away a couple feet and slammed his body into the window. That got her attention.

"Huh, wha?" She muttered and rubbed her head and turned to the window to see her bat friend.

"Hemo?" Charlotte asked and opened the window. Hemo flew in and started squeaking around her head.

"Whoa hey, ssh, you'll wake my parents up." She shushed but Hemo kept squeaking.

"Okay, it's something wrong?" She asked, earning a nod from Hemo. "Okay, do you need the others?" She asked and another nod was her response.

"Alright, I'll get my brother, Brianna and Stephen. You get Coraline and Wybie." Charlotte said and Hemo flew out the window.

Charlotte grabbed a jacket, her key chain slipped her shoes on, and got her bow and arrows. She then crept to her brothers room and opened the door to see him with his head where his feet should be. Charlotte closed the door behind her and shook her brother awake.

"Trevor, Trevor wake up!" She whispered and her brother groaned in annoyance.

"It's dark out, so I'm not getting up." He said and turned over. Charlotte huffed and took his pillow and whacked him in the face.

"Get up!" She huffed.

"Ow! Ug, what is it? This better be important." He said and sat up.

"Hemo came earlier in a panic, we gotta get to Halloween Town. I'll grab Brianna, you get Stephen." She said and used her keychain on the closet door.

"What? Why do I have to go?..." He whined.

"Cause if you don't, Brianna will be mad at you for sleeping while she got to get up. Now mush!" She growled and Trevor got his shoes on as Charlotte went to Brianna's room. She saw her friend snoring loudly and nudged her.

"Brianna, sorry to wake you, but we need help." Charlotte whispered.

"Marco..." Brianna muttered. Charlotte sighed, knowing that if anyone said 'Polo' they would get whacked in the head, hard.

"And Star forever, can you get up?" Charlotte asked and Brianna shot up.

"Yep, what's up." She asked.

"Something's going on in Halloween town, I'll explain later, but we gotta move." Charlotte said and Brianna leapt out of her bed and grabbed a sweater and her silver violin from its case.

"Let's roll. Sooner this is done, the sooner we get more sleep." Brianna said and Charlotte used her keychain to get to Halloween Town.

Meanwhile, at the Pink Palace, Cat was stalking a mouse when he felt something. He couldn't explain it, but there was something off. He then saw a familiar bat fly above him. Forgetting his meal, Cat ran after him and saw Hemo fly to Coraline's window. Cat leaped onto the sill.

"Allow me." He purred and scratched at the window. Coraline slowly got up and saw her furry friends at the window, slipping on her shoes she went over to the window and let them in.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" She asked and Hemo squeaked worriedly. Coraline gave him a blank stare before grabbing her keychain and holding it up to Cat.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"I'm not sure, but if Hemo flew all the way here then it must be important. I believe getting Wybie would be wise." Cat explained.

"Okay, let's go then." Coraline said and grabbed a coat before rushing to get her friend.

Meanwhile, back in Halloween Town. Charlotte, Brianna, Stephen and Trevor were waiting for the others to arrive. Though they all were tried, everyone knew this was important.

"Ug, how long does it take to get two people?" Stephen groaned, rubbing his eyes to stay awake.

"Give them a minute, I'm sure they're..." Charlotte was cut off by a glowing beam. "And there they are." She said as Coraline, Wybie, Cat and Hemo came out.

"Great we're all here. Now Hemo, show us where we are needed." Charlottes said and Hemo flew off with the rest following him. Once they got to the tree house Shock 2as there to greet them.

"You made it!" She said, running up to them.

"Yeah, not like we have school tomorrow...oh wait..." Trevor wasn't able to finish his comment before his sister covered her mouth.

"Ignore him, but what's going on? Hemo just showed up in a panic, no letter or anything." Charlotte said.

"It's best if I show you." Shock said and led everyone into the house, once they walked inside they saw Bella crying in a corner, only she couldn't touch her face, due to the needles, so she just leaned against the wall, with her legs stretched out into front of her and arms laying limply at her side.

"Okay...not what I was expecting." Brianna admitted.

"Bella, are you okay?" Charlotte asked. Bella shook her head as more tears ran down her face.

"We don't know what happened. All we..." Lock started only to receive a smack from Shock. "...I mean... all I did was scare her. She's been scared before." Lock said. Cat walked up to Bella and attempted to nuzzle her, but Bella refused to let Cat touch her.

"Alright, this is officially the weirdest thing I was woken up for." Stephen muttered.

"I don't understand, didn't we free Bella from...you-know-who?" Wybie asked.

"We did, this shouldn't be happening." Trevor said.

"And yet it is, maybe we should take her to...Wait does Halloween Town have a doctor?" Coraline asked.

"Yeah, Doctor Finklestien, he and his wife, Jewel were at Christmas Party remember?" Charlotte asked.

"Oh right, isn't he Sally's 'dad'?" Coraline asked.

"Uh yeah...in a way. But that's a good idea. He's been around Halloween Town for a long time, he might have some insight." Charlotte said and bent down to Bella.

"Listen, I know you're scared, but we are going to figure out what's wrong. So take a breath and let's go." Charlotte said and reached a hand out. Bella took and breath and looked up in slight embarrassment.

"I...I can't walk..." She admitted.

"Psssh, don't worry, we got this." Brianna said then released she was holding her violin.

"Okay, Charlotte's got this." Brianna said and Charlotte carefully picked up Bella in her arms, doing her best to avoid her needles.

"Alright, we'll head to the Doc's, can some of you get Jack and Sally? I have a feeling they would like to know about this." She said.

"I'll go." Trevor said. "Who wants to come with?" He asked. Stephen raised his hand and the two headed two Skellington manor while the others went to the docs.

"Uh...so do we knock or ring the doorbell?" Stephen asked tiredly.

"Um...eh, we only live once." Trevor shrugged and pulled down on the spider causing a scream to echo through the house. A few moments passed and the door opened.

"Stephen, Trevor? What in Halloween are you doing here this late?" Jack asked. Though the two weren't so focused on answering the holiday leader as they were on his pajama's they've only seem him wear it in the movie. But they couldn't take him seriously right now.

"Um...hehehe...ahem, sorry. Uh sorry to wake you...but...um...nope can't to it...Hahahaha!" Trevor burst out laughing and Stephen held in a snicker.

"Sorry, um...something happened with Bella and we figured we should get you and Sally...sorry man, but we've never seem you in your nightwear." Stephen said before laughing. It was at this time when Sally came to the door.

"Wait, what's wrong with Bella?" She asked worriedly.

"Uh, better you see for yourself. Wanna get changed first?" Trevor asked, gaining his composure. Jack nodded and invited them to wait inside as he got dressed.

Meanwhile, the others had made it to the docs house and knocked on the door, no answer after a while. Brianna tried the door but it was locked.

"Aw come on! You'd think he would leave it open incase of emergencies." Brianna groaned.

"Should we break the door down then?" Coraline asked.

"No, that's be irresponsible." Charlotte said and turned to Lock, Shock and Barrel. "Okay, who here knows how to pick a lock?" She asked hopefully.

"Me! Me! I do!" They cheered at once, but before Charlotte could tell in to go, the door opened and Igor peeked out.

"Igor! Good you answered. Is the doctor up?" Brianna asked.

"Master not happy you woke him." Igor warned, but opened the door for them.

"What is going on? This better be important." I rough voice spat and Dr. Finklestein wheeled his way to the edge of the lab.

"Doc, it's me Charlotte. I know it's late, but we really need you." Charlotte then hurried up the ramp and the town doctor saw what happened to Bella.

"Oh my, this is something." He muttered as everyone else came up.

"Can you help her?" Barrel asked.

"Come to my lab and I'll see what I can do." Dr. Finklestein said and rolled his chair towards his lab.

"You mean what we can do dear." A soft voice said calmly. Jewel had woken up as well and saw what happened.

"Oh my, is the poor dear alright?" She asked and went over to Bella, who buried her face in Charlotte's chest in embarrassment.

"She's kinda upset. This all happened suddenly." Brianna said.

"Well let's get to the lab and get to the bottom of this." Jewel said determinedly.

Once they were in the lab, Bella sat in the examination table. The doctor was examining her legs while Jewel looked at her hand from under a magnified glass.

"Well, anything?" Coraline asked. Before Dr. Finklestein could answer the pumpkin king himself burst through the door.

"Doctor, we came as soon as we could." Jack said and was followed by Trevor, Stephen, and Sally, who gasped in horror.

"Oh my goodness...Bella are you alright?" Sally asked and walked over to the young girl.

"Doctor, how did this happen?" Jack asked.

"Well, I think I came to a conclusion. But one thing first, what actually triggered this transformation?" The doctor asked.

"Um...I jumped on her while her back was turned." Lock admitted.

"Then that explains part of it." Dr. Finklestein mused.

"What do you mean 'part of it'?" Wybie asked.

"Allow me to demonstrate. Brianna, come here." Brianna walked over to the doctor and he whispered something in her ear and she got a wide grin on her face.

"Trevor think fast!" She cried and was about to swing her violin though Trevor quickly held up his hands in defense.

"Freeze." Dr. Finkelstein said and the two stopped in place. "Now, when attacked, you react on instinct. I believe that is what triggered Bella to transform." He explained.

"So it was adrenaline?" Trevor asked, lowering his arms and he looked at Brianna. "I think you can lower your weapon." He added.

"Oh...okay." Brianna said and lowered her violin.

"So, can you change her back?" Barrel asked.

"Well, I can't but I believe that in order for Bella to revert to her normal state she must simply relax." Dr. Finklestein said.

"Okay, I've been through a hecka lot of anxiety through tests, exams and what ever the finals are." Charlotte said and went over to Bella.

"Okay breath in for 5 seconds, then breath out for 5 more seconds and repeat." Charlotte instructed and Bella did as she was told and her hands and legs slowly became back to normal.

"There, feel better?" Charlotte asked as she helped Bella down.

"Yeah...much better." Bella looking at her hands. She jumped off of the examination table.

"Great, now can we focus on why this happened? It doesn't make any sense. We freed Bella from the Beldam." Coraline said.

"Also, are you saying that these powers were trying to help defend her?" Stephen asked.

"Well, I believe this might have to do with the bleeding effect." Dr. Finkelstein said thoughtfully.

"Was that a pun?" Trevor muttered, Charlotte whacked him in the head lightly.

"Allow we to explain. When being possessed for a long amount of time, certain powers can go both ways. For instance if you were possessed by a ghost for longer then a month then you could pass through objects, float, or maybe even never get sick again." Dr. Finkelstein explained.

"Okay, with you so far." Brianna said.

"What he's saying is that while the Beldam was possessing Bella, some of her abilities were transferred over to Bella. In this case her shape shifting." Jewel said.

"Right, the Beldam was able to shape-shift into my mother...and probably the other ghost children's mothers too." Coraline recapped.

"So, I can become that thing again?" Everyone turned to Bella, who was staring at everyone at shock. They gave one another glances of uncertainty.

"I knew it, I'm a threat to everyone now." Bella said and hugged herself.

"No Bella, that's not what we were saying." Charlotte insisted, walking over to her.

"Buts it's what your were thinking. I can't control this and having the Beldam's powers is the last thing I wanted. If I stay here I'll just end up hurting others like she did!" Bella cried and ran out of the door.

"Bella wait!" Practically everyone yelled and ran to the door, but when the looked down, Bella was long gone.

"Dang, how fast can she run?" Trevor asked.

"Well she doesn't really need to take a break...since you know..." Brianna muttered.

"Not important. We gotta find her. Jack, you and Sally should get Zero, he can sniff her out. The rest of us will search the graveyard." Charlotte said, and the others nodded in agreement. The ran down the ramp and Charlotte turned around, remembering the three other kids.

"Okay, you three stay here. We don't need four kids running around." Charlotte said.

"What, but we wanna help!" Shock protested.

"Yeah, she's our sister!" Lock added. Jack then came up to them.

"Charlotte's right, we'll find Bella, just stay here please." Jack said and everyone else ran out.

"Ug! This is pointless! We should be out there helping her!" Lock pouted and folding his arms slumping on the ground. Jewel smiled softly and went over to them.

"I'm sure they'll bring Bella back safe and sound. They just don't want you three to go missing too." She explained. Suddenly Barrel perked up.

"Wait, I got an idea! Jewel can you please take up to our tree house? We need to grab something!" Barrel pleaded, tugging at Jewel's arm. She looked concerned for a moment but smiled.

"Alright, lead the way." She said and followed them outside.

Meanwhile, in the Hinterlands of Halloween town, Bella was running. Eyes clouded with tears and no sense of where she was going. She just needed to run away from everyone that she cared about. She finally stopped and sighed. Then noticed she just so happened to be right outside the Beldam's old house.

"Of course I'm here. Of course." She whimpered fell to her knees, bursting into tears. Face in hands, she just cried. Why did this have to happen? She was just getting used to waking up in Halloween town and not under the control of the Beldam. She was happy, but now it just felt like she was cursed.

"Ssh, don't cry dear." A soft voice soothed gently. Bella gasped slightly.

"M-m-mom?" She asked hopefully.

"No sweetie, I'm not your mother." Bella looked up and saw a ghost women. She didn't look like the other ghosts in Halloween town, she almost looked human, except for the fact she was transparent. She was very tall and had long black hair that flowed around her as if something was blowing it softly. She also wore a white dress that covered her legs, though her arms were completely shown.

"Who, who are you?" Bella asked. The women smiled and knelt down to face her.

"I'm a friend, and I'm here to help. Now, why are you crying?" She asked gently and reached out a hand to touch Bella's face, but it just went right through her. Bella gasped and flinched slightly.

"Ooh, sorry, I've never done this before." She admitted then turned back to Bella, waiting for a response to the question.

"It's okay...um...I'm just upset. I just learned I now share the same powers as the one that held me prisoner." Bella said and hugged her knees.

"The Beldam." The ghost women said, this time with a hint of anger and grudge.

"You knew her?" Bella asked, looking up at her mysterious company.

"Yes, long ago back when I was a resident here. The Beldam was known famously for her tricks, but unfortunately she broke one of Halloween town's most important rules. No hurting victims. Everyone was shocked, and not in a good way. Jack had banished her, but it appears that wasn't the end of it." The ghost turned to Bella, who was now in deep thought.

"It still isn't the end. Now that I have her powers I'm a constant reminder of her." Bella said sadly as she stared at her hands.

"Now don't you think for one moment you are anything like the Beldam. You are a kind girl, who would do anything to help her friends, and family. The Beldam was cruel and only cared about staying alive. Don't let what she did weigh you down." The ghost said and Bella still looked down.

"But what if..."

"There is no 'what if', powers or not it's our chicles that's what matter. The Beldam's just made the wrong ones."

Bella took this information in for a moment. One one hand, she had no idea who this was, on the other hand, what she was saying was true. Bella could make her own choices, even after being tricked by the Beldam. She learned for that and would continue doing what she was doing. And that was being with her siblings.

"I think I understand, thank you Miss..." Before Bella could ask for her new friends name a loud rustling was heard. Causing both to jump up in surprise.

"W-what was that?" Bella asked nervously.

"It's one of her old puppets..." The ghost said, glaring at the Beldam's old house. A few of the old beams started to shift slightly and Bella gasped, backing away.

"Oh no...nononononono!" She muttered in fear. The ghost women then turned to her.

"Go, run as fast as you can and find your friends. Hurry!" She urged. Bella was about to but was hesitant.

"What about you?" She asked.

"I have to go young one, just go!" She said and Bella ran off back towards Halloween town as the women started to fade away.

"Jack, my son, find her quickly...please." She whispered and closed her eyes as she vanished. A much darker figure then emerged from the shadows of the Beldam's house. Spotting Bella right away.

"Bella! BEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAA!" Everyone called as they searched for her.

"Bella where are you?" Charlotte called scanning the cemetery. No sign of her friend. She then looked up at Hemo, who was flying above them.

"Anything?" She asked. Hemo shook his head and started using his echolocation once again.

"She could be anywhere by now...also why are you playing that violin? You think that she's just gonna come running?" Trevor snapped at Brianna who was playing her violin the whole time.

"Hey, I know what I'm doing! So less talking more looking!" Brianna retorted.

"I hope Jack and Sally are having better luck then us." Wybie said as they kept walking, Spiral Hill then came into view. Hemo then started squeaking rabidly.

"What is it?" Coraline asked and Charlotte gasped.

"It's Bella, look!" She pointed and, sure enough, Bella was running to Spiral Hill and seemed to be hiding.

"Wait...what the heck is that!?" Stephen cried and everyone turned to see a figure that was almost as tall as Jack, however he was slumped over and constantly groaning and what could clearly be seen was his black button eyes.

"It's one of the Beldam's puppets." Coraline glared and Brianna's eyes widened.

"Oh heck no, not today, not ever." She cried, and got her violin ready. "I'm going on, whatever you do, don't follow me." Brianna said sternly.

"Wait what are you...?" Charlotte couldn't finish her question because Brianna was already bolting towards Bella and the puppet. Bella noticed that she was coming and moved to her, only to have the puppet grab at her.

"Aaaaaaah!" She screamed again and backed up, hands turning into needles again. Meanwhile Brianna was playing a few notes on her violin and it started to glow.

"VIO-LENCE!" She screamed and used it to whack the puppet and a giant flash was shown. The puppet was thrown back and burst into ash. It all happened so fast, but once it was over a loud rumble was heard and everyone's jaw dropped.

"What. Was. That!?" Trevor asked. No one knew the answer.

"Is everyone alright?" They turned and saw, Jack, Sally and Zero heading towards them.

"Yeah, other then the creep puppet and Brianna having crazy OP powers we're fine." Stephen said and gave a hollow laugh.

"Wait, what? You mean that was her?" Sally asked.

"Yeah, let's get over to her and find out." Charlotte suggested and they walked over to Spiral Hill, where Brianna was taking with Bella, whose hands were back to normal.

"Okay, I think I'm speaking for everyone when asking, what in the name of the seven holidays was THAT!?" Charlotte asked and gestured to Brianna's violin.

"Well, I did say I discovered a new detail about my violin. I just didn't know it would be smashing a puppet." Brianna explained.

"Wait so the soccer field that had a giant crater in the middle was you? Geez..." Trevor muttered, voice trailing off.

"It seems the violin was more powerful than I originally thought." Cat mused and Stephen winced.

"Man, I keep forgetting you can talk." He said.

"Okay enough of that. Bella, are you alright?" Charlotte asked, bending next to her friend.

"Um...yeah, I'm alright. Thank you Brianna." Bella said.

"Aww, anytime girl. We're just glad you're safe." Brianna said.

"Yeah, we know these powers are scary for you, but we'll help you every step of the way." Charlotte promised and Bella smiled.

"Bella!" Everyone turned once more and saw Lock, Shock and Barrel running towards her. Jewel was right behind them.

"Guys, what are doing here?" Bella asked.

"We came to bring you this." Barrel said and handed her something.

"My bear, thank you." Bella said and cuddled her favorite toy.

"Well, this has been fun, but can we please go back to bed...some of us have to get up for school." Trevor groaned.

"Yeah, we really should get back before our parents call the police on us." Coraline said.

"Um...Jack...can I or we..." Bella muttered and Jack bent down to face her.

"Yes Bella?" He asked sweetly.

"Can we stay at your place tonight please?" She asked. Jack smiled.

"Of course let's get going."

Later, when the humans had gone back to bed Jack had set up the couch for Lock, Shock, Barrel and Bella. They each were tucked in and Sally brought them pillows when Bella noticed something on the table.

"Jack, whose that?" She asked and pointed to a picture frame. Jack picked it up and smiled.

"That's me when o was younger. About your age I believe. And those are my parents. Cedric and Willow Skellington." Jack explained and Bella's eyes widened.

Willow was the ghost women.

She gave a soft smile and laid down to get some sleep.

"Thank you." She softly whispered, not knowing the two figures watching her form the window. Holding hands and smiling. Happily.

Author's Note:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I know it's late but it's not midnight yet for me so HA! I win! I was Kim Possible, who were you? If you dressed up, it's cool if you didn't, please leave a review on what you thought!

grimlock987: I don't know who those two are...sorry.

GoddessofTricks: Awww, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Here's the next one!

DarkSweetHeart1234: It begins indeed...